WORD
WHEN I USE A WORD IT MEANS JUST WHAT I CHOOSE IT TO MEAN
NEITHER MORE NOR LESS (*Humpty Dumpty Alice in Wonderland)
I thought that I might like to be the Writer in Residence at
Al Purdy’s place in Ameliasburgh Prince Edward County
Past tense All of those un-poemed words floating around
+Eurithe’s un-moaned moans Ditto Al’s jism on the wall
Now they will never accept my application though Al would
applaud the word jism He was not one to shy away from the
vernacular “This poetry is the voice of the Canadian vernacular”
If you say so Margaret Atwood But who you calling King of the
Vernacular Peg? Queen of Dystopia High+Mighty
Al Purdy+Charles Bukowski enjoyed a correspondence filled with
vomitous pith Sometimes one must kneel astride the porcelain
in order to kiss the sky
__
And you you bitch no irritating questions re love and permanence
Only an unrolling lifetime here between your rocking thighs
(Al Purdy Song of The Impermanent Husband)
I don’t know of any good living poets. But there’s this tough son of a bitch
up in Canada that walks the line. (Bukowski on Purdy)
Fall 2015
